French energy giant EDF has achieved a major milestone at the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station in Somerset, successfully installing the second reactor pressure vessel using the massive crane known as 'Big Carl'. The operation, which involved lifting a 500-tonne cylinder into place, was described as 'tremendous' by project officials.
Months of Planning and Coordination
Simon Parsons, Hinkley Point C’s delivery director, highlighted the collaborative effort behind the achievement. 'This marks a tremendous achievement by the entire team and one that has taken months of planning and close coordination between the 10 main contractors involved,' he said.
The reactor vessel was shipped from France to Avonmouth Docks in Bristol earlier this year, then transported by barge to Somerset, with the final four miles to the Bridgwater site completed on a specialized transporter. Once inside the reactor building, the 13-metre-long vessel was lifted and rotated into a vertical position by the large internal crane and lowered onto a support ring with just 40mm clearance on either side.
Lessons from Unit 1
Mr. Parsons noted that the team applied lessons learned from the first reactor’s installation in 2023 to improve efficiency. 'Importantly, we are also applying those lessons to put Unit 2 well ahead of the first unit’s position at the equivalent stage, with more materials in place and more work achieved,' he added.
EDF confirmed that the Unit 2 reactor building is further ahead than at the same stage for Unit 1, with more equipment installed, structural steel work completed, and the outer containment layer already in place.
Project Delays and Costs
The milestone comes amid ongoing challenges for the project. In February, EDF announced that the first reactor would start operating in 2030, a year later than previously expected and nearly 13 years after construction began. The delay is expected to push the total cost to £35bn, far exceeding the original estimate of £18bn when the project was approved in 2016. However, the final cost could be even higher when adjusted for inflation, as EDF’s estimates are based on 2015 prices.
Despite these setbacks, Hinkley Point C is designed to provide zero-carbon electricity to six million UK homes once fully operational. The reactor pressure vessel uses nuclear fission to generate heat and steam for the world’s largest turbines, the Arabelle.
